The European Commission’s gas price cap of €275 per MWh is being questioned from within the bloc. Croatian officials are pushing the European Union to consider a lower threshold. This comes from remarks attributed to Davor Filipovic, the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, and reported through the Prime Minister’s Office.
Filipovic noted that a morning meeting included 15 member states that have long pressed for a ceiling on gas prices. They argued that the EC’s current proposal should be refined because the proposed ceiling—€275 per MWh—remains too high. The minister emphasized the need for a more protective measure to shield consumers and industries from volatile energy markets.
As a point of comparison, he cited the present futures price for the Dutch TTF hub, which stood around €126 per MWh (approximately €1.3 thousand per thousand cubic meters). He also referenced estimates suggesting that fuel costs in the first quarter of 2023 could reach about €139 per MWh (roughly €1.4k per thousand cubic meters), illustrating the pressure a higher cap would place on state budgets and household bills.
Earlier in the year, on 22 November, the European Commission proposed setting a cap of €275 per MWh for monthly gas futures on the TTF hub. The figure corresponds to roughly $2,922 per thousand cubic meters at current exchange rates. Kadri Simson, the Commissioner responsible for Energy, indicated that transactions exceeding this level would be blocked, a move intended to prevent a surge in wholesale prices from cascading into end-user costs. This stance has prompted debate among member states about the best means to balance market efficiency with price protection for consumers.
Supporters of a tighter cap argue that affordable energy is essential for economic resilience, especially for sectors reliant on natural gas for heating, electricity generation, and industrial processes. They contend that a lower ceiling would help stabilize bills for households and firms alike, reducing the risk of energy poverty while preserving market signals that guide investment in energy efficiency and diversification. Critics, however, warn that too aggressive a cap could distort markets, limit supply, or deter investment in gas infrastructure and alternative energy sources. The dialogue continues as EU policymakers weigh potential adjustments to the proposed mechanism, combining political consensus with technical assessment of supply and demand dynamics, storage levels, and seasonal risk factors.
Observers note that harmonizing prices across diverse member states remains a complex challenge, given variations in climate, energy mix, and wholesale market participation. The Croatian contribution underscores a broader regional interest in ensuring that price controls serve as a buffer rather than a barrier to Europe’s energy security. Analysts suggest that any final policy will likely pair the price cap with complementary measures, such as targeted subsidies, smart tariff designs, and strategic gas storage utilization, to cushion the impact on vulnerable consumers while maintaining market transparency.
In the ongoing policy debate, negotiators are examining how to align the cap with long-term goals for energy diversification, renewable integration, and energy independence. The conversation also touches on bilateral and multilateral energy arrangements, the role of storage facilities, and the potential for synchronized cap adjustments in response to market shocks. As member states seek a pragmatic solution, the emphasis remains on balancing affordability with market integrity, ensuring that monetary interventions support stability without disincentivizing efficient energy use and investment in low-carbon alternatives. Ultimately, the goal is to equip Europe with a resilient framework that protects households, sustains industry, and fosters a sustainable energy transition, even amid volatile global gas markets. (Citation: European Commission briefings; statements from national ministries of energy and finance)”